A homeland’s rise through the eyes of time

Rain couldn’t dampen the Merdeka spirit as Malaysians huddled under umbrellas to watch the parade, their vibrant ‘70s fashion adding colour to the grey skies. — YEONG CHEONG/The Star

From grainy black-and-white images of 1957 to the vibrant, high-definition snapshots of today, the evolution of National Day celebrations around the country reflects the journey of a young nation coming into its own.

Rain couldn’t dampen the Merdeka spirit as Malaysians huddled under umbrellas to watch the parade, their vibrant ‘70s fashion adding colour to the grey skies. — YEONG CHEONG/The Star

The iconic image of the nation’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman raising his hand, rousing the rakyat with his clarion call of ‘Merdeka!’.

1979: A lively display of unity in diversity as colourfully dressed “couples” representing Malaysia’s many races rode by in trishaws. — CHAN LOOI TAT/The Star

With boots in sync and pride in stride, female police cadets made a striking sight as they marched through Kuala Lumpur during the parade. — MOK YONG/The Star

The Star photographer SS Kanesan captured this moment of photography students honing their skills during the Merdeka parade in Kuala Lumpur.

A striking display of patriotism as marchers carried a long stretch of the Jalur Gemilang during the Malacca-level National Day parade at Dataran Pahlawan. — A. MALEX YAHAYA/The Star

A ride down memory lane as cyclists dressed in vintage clothing joined the 55th Merdeka parade at the Esplanade in George Town, Penang. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

Datuk Azhar Mansor, the first Malaysian to sail solo around the world, rode in a purple Proton Cabriolet prototype as he greeted Malaysians during the Merdeka parade. — SIA HONG KIAU/The Star

Dancers celebrating the 51st Merdeka with a colourful parade in Kuantan, Pahang. — NIK NAIZI HUSIN/The Star

Several ‘Abang Bomba’ from the Fire and Rescue Department flexing their muscles for adoring fans during the parade in Putrajaya.— AZMAN GHANI/The Star